(Reuters) — Many of this year’s Academy Award nominees arrived at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills for their only official function together before the Oscars are announced on Sunday, February 28.
Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio (‘The Revenant’), Alicia Vikander (‘Danish Girl’), Lady Gaga, Rachel McAdams (‘Spotlight’) and Brie Larson (‘Room’) all turned out for photographers prior to attending the luncheon.
All five Best Director nominees turned out on the red carpet – Lenny Abrahamson (‘Room’), Alejandro G. Inarritu (‘The Revenant’), Tom McCarthy (‘Spotlight’), Adam McKay (‘Big Short’) and George Miller (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’).
Noticeable absentees from this year’s nominees included Bryan Cranston (‘Trumbo’), Michael Fassbender (‘Steve Jobs’), Cate Blanchett (‘Carol’), Tom Hardy (‘The Revenant’), and Kate Winslet (‘Steve Jobs’).
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has been criticised since the nominations were announced because of a lack of diversity in its nominees, particularly in the acting categories.
The Oscars will be handed out in Hollywood on February 28.